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Until June 2014

How can anybody be happy with a draw against the worst team in the league. We are self destructing and the tinks have a massive comeback. Let's face it, since the winter break we've been gash and the goals have dried up, next week for me determines how successful our season has been.

6 of their last 8 games have been at home, on a pitch that is nothing short of diabolical and gives them a clear advantage against all visitors. The 2 away games were against Dundee when they were at rock bottom, and before the "new manager bounce" and Aberdeen who's pitch would have felt like home to them. Also need to keep in mind that two of those games should have been played before they were able to strengthen in the transfer window....games postponed by state of their pitch, so another advantage from it being screwed up. Let's see how they perform next week on a proper pitch where their opponents can get the ball down on the deck and play some football against them. My prediction is that we'll well and truly put them back in their box with a lesson on how the game is played on a level (quite literally) playing field.

Match report from Dee perspective for any interested......... Dundee's improved form continued with an entertaining 1-1 draw with Inverness Caley Thistle at Dens Park this afternoon. Disappointingly the Dee couldn't hold on after John Baird's early goal and Billy McKay equalised with a late header. Caley Thistle spent the first 10 minutes largely in the Dundee half without creating any real danger. It was Dundee who took the lead after 12 minutes with a well worked move. Harkins and Conroy combined cleverly on the left to create space for John BAIRD to run on and score with a sweetly struck low shot from 18 yards that flew inside Esson's right hand post. Two minutes later Nicky Riley crashed a 20 yard shot just too high when the ball broke to him after a corner. Any thoughts that Caley Thistle might allow Dundee an easy ride were swiftly dispelled as the visitors came agonisingly close to equalising. First, Douglas failed to reach a corner and Warren's header was kept out by Irvine, who managed to turn the ball onto the crossbar. Lewis Toshney scrambled the ball away when it dropped onto the goal-line. Next Andrew Shinnie turned neatly and smashed a 20 yard shot over Douglas and off the crossbar. Caley Thistle might have been menacing in attack, but their defence continually lost shape and concentration when they were coming forward. Dundee always looked capable of opening them up on the counter attack. However, it was a spell of patient passing around the visitors' penalty area that nearly brought a second goal. Riley swung a dangerous cross into the goalmouth, Baird lunged at it and Esson pulled off a remarkable reflex save at point blank range. The ball broke to Harkins, but the defence managed to crowd him out. Caley Thistle had the better of the later stages in the first half. Billy McKay managed to burrow his way into the penalty area, but the Dark Blues managed to get bodies in the way to block his first shot and follow up. A dangerous cross from Doran on the right was then turned away by Iain Davidson's fine defensive header. Another good header by Davidson nearly gave Dundee the perfect start to the second half, but Esson managed to tip his glancing effort from a corner over the bar. Dundee had their best spell of the match after half time. A series of neat moves, mostly involving Riley on the right, posed problems for the Caley Thistle defence that they struggled to deal with. The visitors were still very much in the game and looked dangerous whenever they came forward. Doran's wicked cross into the goalmouth caused near panic before the Dee defence managed to clear. That was a rare moment of consternation in the home defence in the second half. For the most part they handled the Caley Thistle attacks better than in the first half, and it was the visitors' defence who looked utterly unconvincing. They were wide open when Dundee broke out from defence, and the Dark Blues should really have punished them. Two particularly promising breaks were wasted by the Dee. Riley led a fast counter attack, but Gary Irvine's poor cross ended the attack. Another swift breakaway was spoilt when Conroy couldn't control Riley's cross. Caley Thistle came close when Douglas had to leap to his left to touch Tudor Jones accurate 20 yard shot round the post. It seemed likely that the game would see at least one more goal. Terry Butcher threw on Richie Foran to play alongside Billy McKay, with Andrew Shinnie just behind them. Caley Thistle managed to get the breakthrough before Dundee could take advantage of the visitors' undermanned midfield and unimpressive defence. They worked the ball patiently around the park in front of the Dundee defence till Graeme Shinnie found space to swing over a dangerous cross to the far post where Billy McKAY, under pressure, managed to force his header inside the post. Both sides tried to win the game in the last few minutes, but the two defences managed to see the game out without too much concern. Carl Finnigan came off the bench, replacing Gary Harkins for the last few minutes, but there was to be no dream ending. A point apiece was a very fair result over the 90 minutes. Caley Thistle could rightly point to some very good play and poor luck in the first half. However, any away team that allows the home side so much space to attack should be grateful to concede only one goal. It was certainly disappointing that Dundee couldn't hold out for all three points, but they should have sewn the game up with their counter attacks in the second half long before Caley Thistle scored. The visitors carried constant threat when they attacked, and a single goal never looked likely to be enough for the Dee. That's three league games undefeated, producing five points. John Baird has scored in each of them and is looking a far happier and more effective player with the increased confidence that the goals have brought. There was a good shape to the Dundee team today, and Caley Thistle were allowed no peace when they were in possession. When we had the ball there were plenty of pleasing moves, mainly involving Baird, Harkins, Riley and Conroy. Caley Thistle won the previous two matches between the sides 4-1 on each occasion. This was a very even match and it never looked like being a repeat of those trouncings. It might be too late to avoid relegation, but Dundee are now looking a good, competitive side, capable of playing some attractive football. That should give the Dark Blue faithful something to enjoy in last few weeks of the season. Today was no thriller, but it was a decent entertaining performance and match, which is a pleasant contrast to many of the games we've seen before this season. Dundee FC 4-4-1-1 Douglas Irvine, Grassi, Toshney, Easton Riley, Davidson, McAlister, Conroy Harkins (Finnigan 85) Baird Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Benedictus, Gallagher, McBride, Stewart Goal; Baird (12) Bookings; Easton (foul on Doran), Davidson (foul on Andrew Shinnie) Inverness CT 4-4-1-1 Esson Raven, Warren, Meekins, Taylor (Ross 57) Doran (Foran 71), Draper, Tudor Jones, Graeme Shinnie Andrew Shinnie McKay Unused subs; Reguero (gk), Polworth, Gibbons, Devine, Sutherland Goal; McKay (82) Bookings; Graeme Shinnie (foul on Riley), Foran (dissent) Attendance; 4,114 Referee; Craig Thomson Report; James Christie

Well whoop de feckin do! We can't win a raffle and Cunty are above us in the league..... Excuse me if I don't get too excited.

Beat County at home next week and all of a sudden all is well in the world again :-)))) Whatever happens great season - far prefer this to the usual scenario - I guess my expectations and interpretation of success are different from others but hey ho there you go. Today's result is another game (and point) closer to top 6 :-) I guess some would prefer we were in Aberdeen's (and a certain Mr Hayes) position ;-))

OK Andy, listen up and listen up good 'cos I ain't gonna say this again. Birmingham! WTF! Adam went there a couple of years ago and now struggles to get a place on the bench at Swindon. Just what is the attraction? Ah! Money! I can understand that the Blues are offering a lot more than ICT and that's attractive when a playing career is so short. But it's not that short. Ask Adam what he's been offerred next year. Not half as much as you I'll bet and that's what'll be offerred to you in a couple of years after warming the bench at a club that has no hope of winning anything and where players are not much in the public eye. ICT can't offer you as much money next year but it's more than may players are getting. But they can offer you a lot more than just the money. For a start you'll be playing in the top flight of a national league and perhaps also in a European competition. That will increase the profile of the team and all the players. But next year promises so much. With several top players signed up already and with your former mates in blue still in the football wilderness, there is a tremendous opportunity for this team to develop and be a real contender for a clear second place next year. Who knows, a place in a cup final or even better is a distinct possibility if you all stick together! What's that you say? Sounds good but you need the money? Hold on, I was just coming to that. You've been offered quite a bit more just now but if you stay in Inverness and continue to develop then the long term prospects will be much better. If you are seen as the creative attacking midfield general of a successful ICT next year and get a dozen or so goals for good measure, then you'll have a lot better teams than B'ham Sh*tty looking to sign you. You'll be a sought after young man. You'll have the double benefit of enjoying another great year in Inverness with regular first team games together with a much better deal with a club with real prospects in the season to follow. What's not to like about that? What's that? You'll stay? Good lad, you'll not regret it!

I just wondered if we are running scared of this new found fame that we have immersed ourselves in. We are a few games short of our greatest ever achievements and the forum is not so much aghast that we could be the second best team in Scotland, but more concerned with the dangerous exploits of our country bumpkin neighbours from behind the caravan dwellers suburbs. Personally, I, (stupid thing to say), believe we need to look upwards, and let the rest take care of themselves.

On the train home now. Very poor display I'm afraid. We should have beaten that mob and often seemed to run out ideas when we got into the final third. In saying that we started alright with Andrew Shinnie hitting the bar and another where the ball bounced around in the box before getting stuck in the mud! The second half was a poor showing from both sides, with ICT looking rather static in possession and on the attack, along with many poor passes. Next week's Highland Derby is the probably the biggest and most important there has ever been. And I for one do not fancy our chances.

Woops - fall back was going to be a Rangers home win - now that makes me happy :-)

I think it is harsh to say that. yes we probably should be winning but Dundee has a new resolve under brown. They look much better in organisation and team structure and with the confidence of a couple of wins they are scoring a few. A draw wasnt ideal but it means we havent lost any ground in the battle for the top 6. Maybe we need a change is formation maybe go 2 up front to mix things up but we still have decent players who will still give it there all and if we win at home next week we go back ahead of them and almost guarantee top 6. We have no right to expect to win any game, they are fighting and are going down with a fight but next week will take care of itself lets do it people

Deelighted :-)

2-2 morrow

yer no ma pal the noo.............

ask any manager, the key to being successful as a manager is having a good backroom staff behind you. great news to keep him on. all hail king marsella. heres hoping he has a less stressful, but just as successful summer this time scouting new talent for us to see.

It'd be nice if they told us soon, I've got a train to catch!

The big question is, who did we use to scout Steve Marsella?

...and played in some cup final last year.

And look what Cowie is doing with...well, wherever he's at. Apparently he did well enough to get some Scotland caps but without looking it up, do you know where he's playing, if he's playing and how many goals he's had this season? It means nothing to most of us if he's playing out side the EPL or SPL. It's lower league football. And, as I've said before, don't complain about the state of Scottish football if you are wishing players away. This is your dream (not mine). I'd far prefer players to stay in Scotland and improve the SPL than lesser players replace them. He plays for the team thats strolling the Championship isn't he? Cardiff.

The only profile I'm scared of is the one I see when I stand side on to a mirror.

Clacher, you're talking about the team....and you are right, that is how they should be approaching it. Fans, however, should be shouting from the rooftops about how well we are doing....if we can't do that, then what's the point of it all!!!

Aye, don't read that rubbish on the official site, always best to to believe what they say on CTO

Playing that oval ball game on a football pitch is like putting lemonade into a 25 year old malt. As I drove past the hallowed turf on my way home from work today my heart sank as I saw the abomination of rugby posts thrusting up into the early evening sky. The TCS is no place for these rucking scrumbags.

I live in Birmingham and can confirm Andy hasn't rung me asking to stay yet.

Future Captain IMHO